SPECIAL PROJECTS
IDDI is one of the Dominican non-profits with the closest ties to private sector bussineses. Together we have implemented the following projects:
Cigar Family Community Project:
Co-funded by the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation (in coordination with the Tabacalera A. Fuente and JC Newman) this project supports the development of the rural communities that exist in the area of the tobacco growing fields of Bonao and includes components such as water and sanitation, electrification, roads, health, education, youth development, sports, micro-credit, organic agriculture and reforestation, among others. The funding for this project is very innovative as it galvanizes the support of all the members of the Cigar Family, a broad based and international group of persons that are involved with the Fuente and Newman families and the cigars that they produce.
Sustainable Tourism and Chocolate Production in Boyá:
Promote the socioeconomic and cultural development of the Municipal District of Boyá and Monte Plata Province through the establishment of an organic cacao processing plant to produce organic chocolate associated with sustainable tourism activities, self-managed by a community production and services cooperative with the Cortés Hermanos support, IDDI, Tequia Experiences, the Boyá City Government and community organizations.
Promoting Development through Baseball:
IDDI is the umbrella organization of an effort by Major League Baseball (MLB) and USAID to leverage the influence of baseball in the Dominican Republic and the financial and human resources of participating organizations to carry out at a national level sustainable development projects that focus on education, health, youth development, and economic development in underserved communities. The objective of the Incentive Fund is to create a long-term mechanism to motivate potential donors – baseball players, teams, fans, corporate sponsors – to finance MLB-DDA community projects.
Recycling Waste and Income Generation in Partnership with Pepsi International:
Together with Pepsi International IDDI is implementing a project to recycle plastic waste in the slums of Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. This effort is in conjunction with community based organizations that will collect the waste and process it.
Development of the Sugar Cane Communities of the Sugar Mills of the Vicini Group:
In November, 2002 IDDI and the Vicini sugar company signed an agreement to promote the development of the bateyes (sugar cane communities) that exist within the properties of the sugar mills that the company owns. This initiative represents the biggest private sector investment in social development in Dominican history.
Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Eastern Region of the Dominican Republic:
With the electrical distribution company that serves the entire eastern region of the Dominican Republic (EDEESTE), IDDI is implementing a project to create community based cooperatives that assist in educating the population in energy conservation and cost recovery.
Out of School and At Risk Youth Development Project with Barrick Gold Corp.
The purpose of this project is to reintegrate into productive and educational activities 400 adolescents and youth between the ages of 13 and 21 who abandoned their public schooling and vocational training in the towns of Cotuí and Maimón in the central part of the Dominican Republic.
Community Development of the Sugar Cane Communities of the Sugar Mill in Barahona:
With the co-funding of the Central Sugar Consortium, operators of the Barahona Sugar Mill, IDDI is implementing a health, education and employment generation development project of the bateyes (sugar cane communities) under a matching grant agreement with the consortium and the Spanish foundation CODESPA. Since the year 2000 the project has invested over US$ 3,000,000.00 and is one of the best examples of corporate social investment in the Dom. Rep.
Puerto Plata Slum Development Project:
In coordination and co-funded by the Generadora San Felipe of Puerto Plata, one of the largest electrical generators in the country, a community based development project is being implemented in the slums of Javillar and Barrio Oeste that includes water and sanitation, primary and human education, strengthening of community organizations and micro-credit.
Collaboration with the Association of Hotels Romana – Bayahibe:
This collaboration includes a number of projects including the relocation of a squatter settlement that existed on the natural springs that feed the town and hotels of Bayahibe, As a result IDDI built a small town for 175 houses, community center, electrical supply system, human waste treatment plant, and streets. Also, funded by the Tour Operators Initiative, the construction of a school in the town of Bayahibe and the construction of an archeological and ecological park in the area.
These efforts have been supported by USAID, the Dominican Government, the hotels owners, the CODESPA Foundation (Spain) and others.
American Chamber of Commerce:
Co-funding of Quantum Learning Centers for at-risk youth.
Tourism for Social Development Initiative:
The Tourism for Social Development Initiative proposes involving all the actors that impact this industry (hotels, restaurants, tourists, tour operators, local government, Ministry of Tourism, travel agencies, the community, etc.) in the development of the communities that exist around the tourist destinations. The objective is to create a value added to the destination (similar to that of eco-tourism) where a sustainable development effort can be created and maintained.
Crafts Development Project:
With the support of UNESCO and the National Association of Hotels and Restaurants (ASONAHORES), IDDI published a catalogue on crafts titled “Creative Hands: A Diversity of Dominican Crafts” that is used to promote and strengthen the crafts sector as well as provide a value added to the tourist attraction of the Dominican Republic. At the same time, a Crafts Map was developed and printed that summarizes the regions where each type of craft is made.
Collaboration with the Dominican – American Chamber of Commerce of NYC:
For years IDDI, in coordination with its non-profit affiliate in the US, the Dominican Foundation, has organized cultural, education, youth related, sports and fund-raising events in NYC with the purpose of supporting development activities of the low income Dominican population both in the US, as well as in the DR.
Community Education and Organization Project in Cap Cana:
IDDI collaborated with the tourist destination and company, Cap Cana, supporting the community that lives in the town existing within the project called Nuevo Juanillo.
Community Based Tourism Project in Boca Chica:
In collaboration with the Tourist Development Association of Boca Chica, IDDI is carrying out a project focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, human training education, reproductive health, civic education and other related activities that promotes healthy tourism for the area.
IDDI has gathered along its many years of work, an endless number of documents, researches, project proposals, information and educational brochures. This section will allow you to download and save these documents on your computer, they are at your disposal taking into account always to mention the origin source from which they came from whenever you use them.
